Season 05 - Episode 15

‘any longer right’

“This is not what I was expecting!” Syl gasps, half to herself, as she and Ko move quickly through the crowded corridors.

Since being escorted off the nearby Scape, the pair have walked in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Now however, Syl has begun to tremble and the words won't stay inside any longer.

“Right,” says Ko conversationally. “And what were you expecting?”

“I don't know,” Syl gabbles, staring through the filthy floor. “Secret meetings, codenames, strategising, sending people off on dangerous missions. Not... well not this!”

“Sorry to disappoint,” says Ko absently, glancing behind them.

“Would they have...” says Syl, looking at Ko now. “You know... killed us? Actually?”

“Oh absolutely,” says Ko calmly. “In a heartbeat.”

“Grief!” says Syl, clamping a hand over her mouth and staring back down at nothing.

They lapse back into silence, weaving their way. Several times they have to retrace their steps as they encounter military checkpoints or smouldering holes in the floor. People are everywhere, huddling together on the floor or dashing about, hurrying from horror to horror.

“But it's insane!” Syl cries eventually. “All of this, I mean it's not even as if...”

Ko silences her by suddenly snatching her elbow and dragging her roughly to the floor to sit beside him against the wall. He curls his head to his knees and wraps his arms around his head. Syl goggles at him for a moment but then she hears it too and follows suit.

A moment later a chapter of Seraphim appear, towering above the rapidly parting crowd, their heavy metal footsteps seeming to shake the whole of The Levels. Syl's stomach plunges through the floor as the footsteps halt immediately before her.

“You!” bellows a deep, distorted voice, the voice of a machine with no feeling but hate. “You are an enemy of The Church. You will come with us to face sanction.”

“I'm not!” cries a young, strangled voice. “I swear it! You've got the wrong person!”

Syl peeks out to see a boy barely into his teens cowering before the Seraphim. He raises his hands, weeping openly but the nearest Seraphim backhands him with his mighty metal hand. The boy's face cracks, open and bloody as he slumps to floor, rag doll limp.

“Take him,” barks the foremost Seraphim. Two more move forward to scoop up the slack tangle of skinny young limbs then they resume their march and in a few seconds more they are gone, their footsteps fading beneath the returning sounds of everyday chaos.

“Come on,” says Ko, springing back to his feet and offering Syl his hand.

“Why didn't we help him?” Syl asks when they're back underway.

“There was nothing we could do,” says Ko. “We have to pick our battles.”

“So we won't help a child,” Syl hisses. “A brutalised child! But we'll follow that senile old man and his crazy plan? Which by the way is perfectly absurd!”

“Listen!” says Ko, actually stopping and turning to face Syl full on. “I get that this is new for you and that's it's all very scary but just... don't talk about Ny like that, alright? Ever.”

“Fine,” says Syl and they carry on walking. “But I do know something about The Levels you know. I've devoted my life to keeping these people fed and housed and safe. Trying to save everyone here is mad enough, but everyone on The Scapes as well? Principles are all well and good but goals have to be achievable otherwise you're just setting yourself up to fail...”

“Syl!” snaps Ko, stopping again. “Why are you here? What is it you want?”

“What do you mean?” says Syl, sniffing.

“You've devoted your life to keeping people fed, housed and safe,” he goes on. “But look at them! They're starving! They're homeless! They're dying!”

“So you're saying I shouldn't have bothered,” she replies, folding her arms.

“No,” says Ko, his shoulders dropping as he calms again. “I'm saying it doesn't matter if things are noble or exciting, if they should be done or even if they're possible or impossible. There is only what needs to be done. You do that or you die trying. That's it. Now come on.”

Ko sets off again and for second Syl watches him go, mouth open to respond but with no words forthcoming. Then she frowns, looks around her and hurries to catch up.

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